'Bully' Trailer: Documentary Sheds Light On Bullying Epidemic In Schools (VIDEO)

"Over 13 million American kids will be bullied this year," read the press notes for "Bully," an award-winning documentary set for release in March, "making it the most common form of violence experienced by young people in the nation." Directed by Lee Hirsch, the film -- which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival last April -- follows five families and how they each deal with the growing epidemic in America's schools.

The Weinstein Company has debuted a new trailer for the documentary, which you can watch above. (Advice: have some tissues on hand before doing so.) If you want to find out more about "Bully" and the film's "Stop Bullying, Speak Up!" campaign, head over to the official website.

"Bully" is out in limited release on March 30.

Comments

[femnomad]

05:27 AM on 03/14/2012

I'm an American currently teaching overseas. A young man asked me the other evening "Tell me, what do you think about the people of America? What has happened to your country? Why aren't they the strong country they used to be?" I answered, "We've gotten stupid and lazy." Now I realize I forgot to include arrogant.

[ontariogirl]

11:28 AM on 02/23/2012

I was not bullied as a kid but my older sister (4yrs) was constantly bullied really really bad. My Dad didn't like us fighting but I stuck up for my sister all the time behind his back. In the process I got my behind whopped many times. When my younger brother and sister got bullied I stepped in until I realized it was not the thing to do. They (twins) were 6yrs younger than me. My younger sister was being beat up by one of my schoolmates and I couldn't help myself. I picked up this guy and threw him over a 4' fence. How I did it I don't know. He never touched her again.
I recall reading in the newspaper many years after that one of the guys who bullied my older sister raped and left a woman for dead. She scrawled his name in the dirt. I will never forget this. That could have been my sister.
Violence is not the answer. I know this now. Communication and education to me are the answer. People need more empathy and compassion.

[awa611]

06:55 PM on 02/22/2012

I don't really agree that violence is the answer but, getting these kids or someone else to stick up for them would really help. I was bullied my entire life by my own brother. Constantly hitting me, pushing me, whatever he could get away with. Even though my mom would discipline him, he would do it when she wasn't around and, of course, lie about it. She finally told me I had to learn to stick up for myself cause she wouldn't always be there to help me. I remember the first couple times I did stick up for myself - he was in shock that I finally did something. Didn't take long for him to stop the physical abuse. Doing that gave me the confidence I needed. Then the one time a boy picked on me in fifth grade and bloodied my lip, I chased him down, tackled him and beat the livn snot out of him. Found out later that the teacher saw it happen and let me teach him a lesson because none of the other kids fought back when he messed with them. I don't know if he actually stopped bullying others but he never came near me again - and neither did any of the other punks. I know not every kid that gets bullied is capable of standing up for themselves - and they really shouldn't have to do what I had to do.

[Camille Michelle]

05:31 PM on 02/22/2012

So because WORSE things are happening, that makes this okay? Worse things will ALWAYS be happening because it's all relative. Try being bullied yourself you dolt. This is an epidemic and it needs to be stopped, and no one cares if you're with it or not. Sit down.

[in the center]

05:59 PM on 02/22/2012

I understand what you're trying to say but you're way off. Pain, humiliation, depression, fear, etc., is all relative. Some kids can take it, others can't. In other countries, the ones who can't simply fall by the wayside. We're supposed to be better than that dammit. My guess is you were never bullied or, if you were, you clearly have not prossessed the lingering effects to your psyche. When a child (perhaps like my own six-year-old son) is afraid to go to school, it is a real damn problem and not to be swept under the rug.

[Ponderus]

03:22 PM on 02/22/2012

Bullies are the shock troops of the right wing.

[tinarm]

02:22 PM on 02/22/2012

I will watch this, and anyone who is interested or concerned about these issue's really should pick up the Feb Rolling Stone and read the article School of Hate. Trust me after reading it, I was in tears and then so pissed I wrote an entire page on facebook. Read it. It will show you how adults are failing every child.

[Saxton]

01:37 PM on 02/22/2012

It is frustrating when the kids who bully have more rights than the kids who are bullied. How many kids who are bullied want to leave school, whereas the bullies are seldom removed from the school. I know in our district, kids are afraid to report bullying due to a fear of retaliation.

I would hope this movie is made available to school districts where administrators must watch it but I know that is wishful thinking.

[michelesda]

12:08 PM on 02/22/2012

There is one aspect of bullying that I don't think I've ever seen adequately addressed. Even though I was a cheerful, outgoing non-geeky kid, I used to be bullied because I was the "smart kid," teacher's pet, etc., in a poor redneck neighborhood school, but the bullying came to an end as soon as people came to realize that I would hit back, and wouldn't back down. However, all that did was inspire vengeful schoolyard ne'er-do-wells who still didn't want me around to spread lies among susceptible kids that I had said thus or such about them, in order to inspire them to accost me and pick fights with me, just so they could sit back and watch the fun. Right up through middle school, until my classmates began to get a bit more grown-up and sophisticated, my school days were pretty nightmarish; I would rarely get through a week without two or three fistfights, seemingly fighting an ongoing one man war against everybody, without ever understanding myself what was happening to me or why. I hope some thought is being given to the sorry fact that kids are still kids, human nature is still human nature, an institutional mentality is still an institutional mentality, and that putting an end to bullying behavior doesn't necessarily mean that the problem ends there.

[SteveDenver]

10:35 AM on 02/22/2012

Peaceable children who are in school to learn are being failed by adults who allow this to go on. Anything that interferes with a SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT should be rooted out of schools. Let the parents of bullies deal with their kids, but don't subject all students to this disruption.

[jonredbird]

11:29 AM on 02/22/2012

Morning Stevy. Cant get the trailor to work for me here, will have to try it @ home tonight. But, I do like the write-up I have read, and agree with you 'SAFE LEARNING ENVIORONMENT". This should be guaranteed for all students....by their parents, teachers & school staff. If a child is caught "bullying" another child, then send them home to their parents. Then before the child is allowed back in school, the parent*s and the child will have to attend and complete an "Anti-bullying" education program. That should be an eye-opener for the parents and a pants warmer for the child!!! Ok, Steve, I'm stepp'n down off my stand now.said my piece, cleared my head, back to work now...lol Have a great day Stevy. Oh yea, "hold onto your hat" it's a bit windy outside-dont want you to get "blown"away.lol- JR

[ReadMyLipstick1]

10:25 AM on 02/22/2012

Every elementary and high school should have a serious and rigidly enforced non-bullying policy. It is the responsibility of parents, teachers and school administrators to see that there is a policy, they are all on board, and that the policy is adhered to. A student coming into a school setting carrying a plastic knife in his lunch box will punished to the fullest extent of the law, while that child's friend is getting beaten and provoked ty the class bully.

The elimination of this behavior will only occur when it is no longer tolerated.

[Mrsbean54]

10:10 AM on 02/22/2012

One day, I was getting up from my desk in a social psychology course I took in college, when a girl approached me. The class that day had been about bullying. The girl had been a classmate of mine in grade school.

All she said was "I know I bullied you as a kid, and I'm sorry. I'm a different person now, and I hope you'll forgive me".

I'll never forget it, and I hope she knows I accepted her apology.

Sometimes the bully/victim dichotomy is not so simple. Many bullies are also victims, and many victims become bullies. Awareness, intervention, and the courage to apologize can make all the difference.

[LindseyMNYC]

06:35 PM on 02/21/2012

Trailer looks really good...I can't believe the MPAA is trying to give this film an "R" rating...how are kids supposed to be affected by this if they can't even get into the theater? http://www.indiewire.com/article/harvey-weinstein-and-bullying-victim-to-fight-r-rating-for-bully#

[NancyPeske]

11:45 AM on 02/22/2012

I agree. The director and MPAA MUST get together on this so that it is a true PG-13 film.

[InedaName]

05:50 PM on 02/21/2012

When this 'Bully' documentary is available on Netflix, trust me, you do not want to confuse it with the Larry Clark movie 'Bully'.

[Camille Michelle]

05:33 PM on 02/22/2012

AHH! So true! I thought of that immediately lol

[Gigity]

05:47 PM on 02/21/2012

I'm all for shaming the bullies, but I guess that would be bullying too. I'm still cool with it, though.

[SteveDenver]

10:36 AM on 02/22/2012

I think there is a difference between responding to violence and initiating it.

[carmenalex]

11:07 AM on 02/22/2012

There is a difference between using violence and using education to get your point across. There is a difference between feeling shame for who you are and what you look like, than feeling shame because of your behavior to others.

[Sheldonrs]

04:58 PM on 02/21/2012

Maybe they should require bullies to first view this film and then make them watch "The Final".
A horror movie about the victims who take revenge on their bullies in some very violent but non-fatal ways. Very disturbing.